1 Thessalonians 1

1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord

Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Upward

• 1Th 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
• What does prayer mean to us?
• What is the result of our prayer time?
• It fulfils scriptural command, "1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. "
  • If we are praying,
  • -We build a more personal relationship with our Creator.
  • -It affects our mental processes.
  • -It involves a strengthening of our memory.
  • -It is that which seeds the growth of our actions to be fruitful.

Inward

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Work of faith - Count on your fingers now and consider all the things you do which gives evidence of your faith.

• -What is it that possibly may be seen by your family and also those who know you?
• -What might they say that they could observe about you which is a domonstration of your faith to Godward.
• -It might also be asked, what are you doing which is faithful according to what God would ask of you?
• -Have you ever tried to make a list of those things which God has asked you to do?
• -Even when you drive a car, you have a checklist of those things which need to be done. Some things have to be done before other things, for pleasing results to happen.

Labor of Love - When we speak of love, it seems to imply a relationship directed to someone else or from someone else to you. In this case you are the actor of love. So what are you and have you done which demonstrates love? With respect to someone else in this congregation?

• -What have you done this past month which would be a demonstration of love? Look about you as and as you see faces, remember what you have specifically done to or for each one as a demonstration of love
• -Now think about what others have done with respect to you which was a demonstration of love? Do you remember this latter before the Lord? Is it a matter of praise as you pray before the Lord? Have you expressed it in a thankful manner to the other person too?

Patience of hope in our Lord Jesus

• - First of all, make a list in your mind, What is it I am hoping for in Christ Jesus?
• -When have I kept it in remembrance?
• - What events have come into my life which cause me to endure with long suffering? Am I responding to these things with remembrance that God I coming again, either to remove me from this place to enjoy the rejoicing of Heaven, or to deal with judgment the wicked?

1Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

• -It is difficult to fully know the spiritual status [election] of another person. We cannot know the heart or spirit of another except it manifests itself outwardly through their flesh and actions. Therefore verse 3 above would be the basis for the discernment by which Paul could make this statement - "knowing,…,your election of God."
• -They are "brethren beloved", because they have demonstrated their love of the brethren.
  

1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

• In word
• In power - in the instrumentality of power. It is that which enables or causes something to happen.
• In the Holy Ghost- The Holy Ghost is the instrumentality of the presence of power and that which is accomplished.
  
  • -Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
    [instrument of the power]
    is come upon you:
    [purpose of the power]
    and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
  • -2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
  • -Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
  • Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
  • Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

• In much assurance
  • - of understanding Col 2:2;
  • - of hope unto the end Heb 6:11;
  • - of a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb 10:22
• What manner of men we were among you
  Here Paul appeals to his and that of his companion's conduct as being sufficient to speak for their character and faithfulness.

1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

• Ye became followers
  • -of us
  • -of the Lord
• Received the word
  • in much affliction
  • with joy of the Holy Ghost

1Th 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

Ye were ensamples to all that believe

Outward

1Th 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

• Sounded out the word of the Lord
  • in Macedonia
  • in Achaia
  • in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad
• so that we need not to speak any thing.

1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

• they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in
  • how ye turned to God from idols
  • to serve the living and true God;

1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

to wait for his Son from heaven
A one verse gospel statement